Fluid blending apparatus



Nov. 18, 1969 L. P. JENSEN FLUID BLENDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 16

United States Patent O 3,479,015 FLUID BLENDING APPARATUS Leland P.Jensen, 378 Little Harrison St., Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501 Filed Feb.16, 1968, Ser. No. 705,988 Int. Cl. B01f 7/06, /12

U.S. Cl. 259-110 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This inventionpertains to a fluid blending apparatus which is mountable in either astationary tank or in an over-the-road tank trailer. The apparatusincludes a propeller installation which is mounted in a baflle, or wall,that sectionalizes the interior of the tank into compartments. Aplurality of openings are formed through the bafi'le to allow fluidcommunication between the sections. The propeller installation isoperable to cause the contents of the tank to flow from one compartmentto another compartment thus causing either a blending, or continuousagitation of the contents therein. This invention is par ticularlyadapted to blend liquid feeds, such as molasses and vitamin additives,or liquid fertilizers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The field of art towhich this invention pertains is generally the art of mixing or blendingmechanisms that are mountable in storage or transportable containers,and are adaptable to mix or blend the contents in the container.

Description of the prior art A search of the subject matter of thisinvention disclosed concrete mixers, mechanisms for unloading bulkmaterials such as sugar, pulverized coal, flour, and grains forcontainers, and mixing mechanisms for mixing dry materials with aqueoussolutions. Generally, these mechanisms utilize augers or paddlesdisposed within the containers, for agitating or moving the contents.Neither of these systems are particularly adapted to the blending ofmaterials having a low viscosity.

Until recently there has not been a demand for a fluid blendingapparatus as the development of refinements in the use of feed withadditives and fertilizer compositions was comparatively unknown.Agricultural research has pointed out the need for the utilization ofthese compositions as different conditions and areas require variationsin feeds and fertilizers.

Consumers are demanding greater variety in the composition offertilizers and feeds. This demand creates a tremendous burden on thesuppliers storage facilities as each blend or composition must beseparated from other compositions. Many suppliers install mixingfacilities at the storage site thus enabling each order to be mixedbefore shipment, however this system often creates delay in shipmentbecause of operating schedules of the mixing equipment. Furthermore,adequate mixing mechanisms for low viscosity materials are not availableor are too slow in operation.

Auger-type or paddle-type mixers are cumbersome and heavy. Storagecapacity of a tank with either of these mechanisms is drasticallyreduced. In over-the-road tanks, the weight of these mechanisms reducesthe effective capacity of the tank because of legal weight restrictionsof vehicles. Also, in many instances the condition of the road or fieldnecessitates that lighter mixing mechanisms or lighter loads be used ifthe vehicle is to negotiate across or along them.

Therefore a propeller type mixing apparatus adapted "ice not only to mixor agitate compositions in stationary tank containers as well ason-the-road containers, not only effectively accomplishes the mixingaction but also is economical to manufacture, extremely economical inoperation, and simple but rugged in construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In brief, the fluid blending apparatus, employsthe principle of compartmentalizing a tank with a baflle or wall, havinga plurality of openings formed therethrough, and mounting a motoroperated rotatable propeller in one of the openings in each of thebaffles.

The object of this invention is the provision of a fluid blendingapparatus adapted to be mounted in the interior of a storage tank or inan over-the-road tank trailer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fluid blendingapparatus which is light in weight and which is compact.

A further object of ths invention is the provision of a fluid blendingapparatus which is extremely effective in blending two or morecomponents into a homogeneous mixture.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a fluid blendingapparatus adapted to be mounted in a tank trailer which can blendvarious components of a mixture and/or maintain the mixture in anagitated condition.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a fluidblending apparatus adapted to be mounted in a tank trailer whereinpossible contamination of the contents of the tank is effectivelyreduced or eliminated.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a fluidblending apparatus utilizing a plurality of propeller installationsmounted on a common shaft which is extremely simple in construction thusallowing for easy replacement of components and repair of parts.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a fluid blendingapparatus which is light in weight, compact in construction, economicalto manufacture, extremely functional in use and simple but rugged inconstruction.

These objects, and other features and advantages of this invention willbecome more readily apparent upon reference to the following descriptionwhen taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view partly in sideelevation and partly in longitudinal section of a tank trailer andtractor incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view in section of the trailer;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view taken along the lines 4-4in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings,a semi-tank trailer is shown generally at 10 in FIG. 1, connected to aconventional truck tractor 11. The trailer 10 includes an elongated,horizontally disposed, fluid tight, tank 12 having substantiallycylindrical walls 13 secured, as by welding, between a front end wall 14and a rear end wall 16. The tank 12 is mounted, at its rear end, on aframe 17 supported by a plurality of ground engaging wheels 18. Thefront end of the tank 12 has a coupling 19 secured to the underside sidethereof, which is releasably attachable to the chassis 21 of the tractor11 in a conventional manner.

A closable opening, not shown, is formed in the top of the tank 12 forpurposes of loading, and is of suflicient size to permit access to theinterior of the tank 12 to allow for cleaning maintenance and repairing.Mounted on top of the tank 12 (FIG. 1) and surrounding the opening is aplatform 22 adapted to support a person. Access to the platform isprovided in the form of a depending ladder 23, partially shown in FIG.1, attached to the platform 22. One or more discharge conduits (notshown) are fluidly connected to the bottom of the tank 12 to permit thewithdrawal of the contents therein.

Radially mounted within the tank 12 are a plurality of longitudinallyspaced, convex baflles 24 (FIGS. 1 and 2). As each of the battles 24 areidentical, only one Will be described, with like reference numerals usedto identify like parts. Each baflie 24 (FIG. 2), near the peripherythereof, has a plurality of arcuately spaced openings 26 formedtherethrough. A manhole 27, of sufficient size to permit the passage ofa person therethrough is formed in the center of the baflle 24. A cutout28 is provided at the bottom of the baffle 24 to permit the flow offluid along the bottom of the tank 12. The baffle 24, with openings 26,manhole 27 and cutout 28 is provided in over-the-road tank trailers tosupport the outer walls 13 of the tank and to prevent a sudden shift ofthe contents in the tank during rapid acceleration and deceleration ofthe tractor and trailer.

Mounted within the tank 12 is the fluid blending apparatus of thisinvention, as shown generally at 31 in FIG. 1. The apparatus 31 includesa propeller installation 32 (FIG. 2) which is mounted in each manhole27. As each propeller installation 32 is identical, only one will bedescribed, with like reference numerals indicating like parts.

The propeller installation 32 (FIGS. 3 and 4) includes an annular shapedpropeller housing 33 which is inserted into and secured, as by welding,to the edges 34 of the bafl'le which forms the manhole 27. A quartet ofarcuately spaced, radially extending shaft supports 36 are disposedacross each face of the housing, with the outer end of each secured tothe housing 33, as by a bolt assembly 37. The inner ends of the shaftsupports 36' are attached to a radial and thrust bearing 38. As bestshown in FIG. 3, the bearings 38, on both faces of the housing, areaxially aligned. Journaled in the bearings 38 is a rotatable propellershaft 39 which extends outwardly on both sides of the housing 33. Apropeller 41, adapted to rotate in the housing 33, is mounted on theshaft 39' between the bearings 38.

Both the front end walls 14 (FIG. 1) and the rear end wall 16 have acentrally disposed opening formed therethrough, in each of which issecured a radial and thrust bearing 42, similar to the bearing 38. Eachof the bearings 42 have seal fittings (not shown) for preventing thecontents of this tank 12 from leaking therefrom or from beingcontaminated. These bearings 38 and 42 are disposed in axial alignment,as best shown in FIG. 1.

A first shaft 43 (FIGS. 1 and 3), having an axially drilled hole 44(FIG. 3) formed in one end thereof is mounted on the one end over therearward disposed propeller shaft 39, and secured thereto by a key 46 orthe like. The other end of the first shaft 43 is journaled in the rearend wall bearing 42. Detachably secured to the outer surface of the rearend wall 16 and disposed over the other end of the first shaft 43 is aprotective cover 47 (FIG. 1). A second shaft 48, identical to the firstshaft is detachably secured on one end thereof to the propeller shaft 39of the forward disposed propeller installation 32 and journaled on theother end in the front end wall bearing 42. It will be noted in FIG. 1that the second shaft 48 projects outwardly from the front end wall.

Interconnecting adjacent pairs of propeller installations 32 areinterconnecting shafts 49 which are detachably secured on one end to thepropeller shaft 39 and on the other end to a universal joint 51, or thelike, which is connected to the propeller shaft 39 of the adjacentpropeller installation. A motor 52, mounted on a motor support 53 whichis secured to the outer surface of the front end wall, is operativelyconnected to the forward end of the second shaft 48. A hydraulic pump,or the like, not shown, mounted on the tractor 11 is operable to drivethe motor 52, which in turn rotates the shafts 4s, 39, 49 and 47.

In operation, the energization of the motor 52 causes the propellers torotate thus mixing the products contained in the tank. The rotation ofthe propeller pulls the products through the housing 33 from one sectionof the tank into another section thereof thus maintaining continuousagitation of the contents therein. As the fluid is forced from onecompartment into an adjacent compartment the displaced fluid is replacedby fluid flowing from the adjacent compartment through the openings 26to the one compartment.

The universal joints 51 are provided to allow disassembly of the shafts49 and the propeller installations 32 for maintenance and repair. Themotor 52 and bearing 42 are mounted on the end walls 14 and 16 thusallowing for repair or replacement without disassembly of the apparatus.Furthermore a seal (not shown) is provided on both end walls at theopening through which the shafts 49 project thus preventing thecontamination of the contents of the tank.

Although the description hereinabove has primarily related toover-the-road tanks it is also posisble to utilize the blending systemin a stationary tank. Thus by sectionalizing the tank by one or morebafiles having a plurality of openings formed therein and mounting apropeller installation as described hereinabove in the baffle sufficientagitation can be accomplished to either completely mix the contents inthe tank or to maintain an agitated condition thus preventing eithersetting of the contents or the settling out of one of the additives.

I claim:

1. A fluid blending apparatus for mounting in a tank adapted to containfluid, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of spaced apart batfles disposed in the tank for separatingthe tank into a plurality of compartments, said bafiles each having amanhole and at least one opening formed therethrough thus allowing fluidcommunication between said adjacent compartments;

rotatable propeller means mounted in each of said manholes; and

power means operatively connected to each of said propeller means forrotation thereof thus causing the fluid to move between said adjacentcompartments.

2. A fluid blending apparatus as defined in claim 1,

wherein said propeller means includes a propeller housing mounted insaid manholes, at least one shaft support disposed across each face ofsaid housing, a rotatable propeller shaft journaled in said shaftsupports, and a propeller secured to said shaft.

3. A fluid blending apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said powermeans includes an elongated first shaft mounted in axial alignment withone of said propeller shafts and having one end therof detachablysecured to an end of said one propeller shaft and having the other endthereof extend through the wall of the tank; interconnecting rotatableshafts disposed between adjacent propeller shafts, each of saidinterconnecting shaft detachably secured at one end to one end of one ofsaid propeller shafts and detachably secured at the other end to one endof the adjacent propeller shafts; and a motor disposed outside of thetank on said other end of said first shaft, said motor operable torotate said propeller shafts through said first shaft and saidinterconnecting shafts.

4. A fluid blending apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said powermeans includes a second shaft mounted in axial alignment with said firstshaft and said interconnecting shafts and detachably secured on theforward end therof to said propeller shaft mounted adjacent the wall ofthe tank opposite the wall through which said first shaft extends, therear end of said second shaft extending through the opposite wall.

5. A fluid blending apparatus for mounting in a tank adapted to containfluid, the apparatus comprising:

a baflle disposed in the tank for separating the tank into compartments,said baflle having a manhole and at least one opening formedtherethrough, thus allowing fluid communication between saidcompartments,

rotatable propeller means mounted in said manhole, said propeller meansincluding a propeller housing mounted in said manhole, at least oneshaft support disposed across each face of said housing, a rotatablepropeller shaft journaled in said shaft support, and a 15 other end,said motor operable to rotate said shaft thus causing the'fiuid to movebetween said compartments, and a second shaft mounted in axial alignmentwith said first shaft and detachably connected on the forward endthereof to said propeller shaft on the end opposite said propeller shaftone end having the rear end thereof extending through the wall of thetank opposite the wall through which said propeller shaft other endextends.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1941 Fell 25968 X Tolman 259-68X FOREIGN PATENTS 21,912 1/1901 Great Britain.

ROBERT W. JENKINS, Primary Examiner U.S.Cl. X.R. 25969, 97

